What a new AC unit really costs installed — central air, heat pumps and ductless — by system type and by city, plus the rebates that cut the bill. Figures from surveyed contractor quotes.
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Estimate a complete installed range from system type, capacity, efficiency, region and the duct or electrical work hidden by square-foot price widgets.
Instant result · no email requiredNational 2026 editorial range for budgeting. Local labor, permits, equipment availability, refrigerant transition, taxes and the measured load can materially change the result.
Installed prices include equipment, labor, refrigerant, electrical connection and the mechanical permit. Equipment tier (builder-grade vs. variable-speed premium) moves each band by 20–40%.
| System type | Best for | Typical installed cost (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC replacement (3–4 ton) | Homes with existing ductwork | $5,500 – $13,000 |
| Central AC + air handler | Full-system upgrades | $8,000 – $17,000 |
| Heat pump system | Cooling + efficient winter heating | $7,000 – $16,000 |
| Ductless mini-split | Additions, garages, no-duct homes | $3,500 – $6,000 per zone |
| System + new ductwork | Older homes, major renovations | $10,000 – $20,000+ |
Climate drives system choice, and local labor markets drive labor rates — a Phoenix install prices differently from a Charlotte one. Compare popular markets below or browse all 95 US city and state guides.
| City | Primary system, installed | Alternative system |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | $7,000 – $13,000 | $8,500 – $16,000 |
| Houston, TX | $6,500 – $12,500 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Dallas, TX | $6,500 – $12,000 | $13,000 – $24,000 |
| Austin, TX | $6,800 – $12,500 | $3,500 – $5,500 |
| San Antonio, TX | $6,200 – $11,500 | $7,500 – $14,000 |
| Miami, FL | $6,000 – $11,000 | $5,500 – $9,500 |
| Orlando, FL | $5,800 – $10,500 | $7,000 – $13,000 |
| Tampa, FL | $5,800 – $10,500 | $5,200 – $9,000 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $6,200 – $11,500 | $5,500 – $10,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | $5,500 – $10,000 | $8,500 – $15,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $7,000 – $12,500 | $8,000 – $14,500 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,000 – $6,000 | $9,000 – $17,000 |
Tonnage and sizing. Bigger homes need more capacity, but oversizing is the classic contractor shortcut — it cools fast, dehumidifies badly and cycles itself to an early death. Insist on a Manual J load calculation, not a rule of thumb.
SEER2 rating. Federal minimums are 13.4 (North) and 14.3 (South). In long cooling seasons — Texas, Arizona, Florida, the Gulf — 16–18 SEER2 equipment usually pays back through lower bills; in short seasons, minimum-efficiency often makes better financial sense.
Refrigerant transition. New systems ship with R-454B or R-32. Quotes to "top up" an old R-410A system are increasingly poor value as that refrigerant phases down — factor it into repair-or-replace math.
Ductwork condition. Leaky ducts waste 20–30% of cooling. If ducts are original to an older home, sealing or replacing them alongside the new unit often beats a higher-SEER condenser on payback.
Permits and code extras. Hurricane strapping in Florida, seismic straps in California, rooftop crane time in Phoenix — legitimate line items that vary by metro. The city guides above flag what's normal locally.
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In 2026, a like-for-like central AC replacement (3–4 ton condenser and coil) runs $5,500–$13,000 installed, depending on your market, equipment tier and SEER2 rating. A complete system with a new air handler adds $2,000–$4,000. Ductless mini-splits cost $3,500–$6,000 per zone. Hot-climate metros like Phoenix trend toward the top of these bands.
Roughly half the bill is labor and overhead: EPA 608 certified technicians, refrigerant handling, electrical work, permits and often crane time for rooftop units. Equipment prices also rose with the 2023 SEER2 minimums and the 2025 switch to R-454B/R-32 refrigerants. Multiple surveyed quotes remain the most reliable way to keep the price honest.
The federal 25C home-improvement credit is not available for equipment placed in service after December 31, 2025. State, local and utility rebates still vary by address and equipment, so ask each bidder to itemize only programs that are currently open and confirm eligibility with the program administrator before signing.
Yes. Fall through early spring gets you better scheduling, more negotiating room and seasonal promotions. If your system is 12–15 years old and limped through last summer, replacing it before the heat arrives beats paying emergency-season premiums in July.
Compare the repair as a share of a like-for-like replacement, then weigh the diagnosis, system age, remaining warranty, recent repairs, efficiency, comfort and parts support. A small isolated repair can make sense on an older unit; a compressor or coil repair after repeated failures deserves a written replacement comparison. Refrigerant type affects service cost, but it is not an automatic replacement verdict.
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